A Social Policy Paradigm Shift

MY deep-seated belief that the wide-ranging sphere of social policy in Saint Lucia has often been relegated to the sidelines in party-political discourse is surely not a figment of my imagination. Only a foaming polemicist would deny that social policy has everything do to with economic growth, as social development of itself entails the process of increasing the assets and capabilities of individuals to improve their economic wellbeing and to help them participate in the development process.

At a time of rising anxiety among the youth, and the growing awareness of the unsustainability of high unemployment and large debt repayments, this conversation could not be more important. To be sure, the burden of high youth unemployment is not unique to Saint Lucia and there have rightly been calls to find a regional approach to deal with this vexing issue. Nonetheless, youth unemployment (hovering around 50 percent) must become the focus of both social and economic policy. Economic growth for its own sake cannot be a sensible final objective of society or the only instrument to fight its ills.

We often talk about economic growth as an end in itself, as opposed to social growth as a means to an economic end. Change through social policy is a unique opportunity because it has the highest potential for economic impact in the country. Since development is about reducing vulnerabilities and increasing capacity of people and institutions, a social policy based on forward guidance must be the main instrument to improve human welfare in our small communities and to meet developmental needs in health, education, housing and economic security.

Much to our dismay, the national economy has become wildly unequal – and the way society is organized and resources allocated have probably exacerbated the inequality TRIFECTA (income, wealth, opportunity). The primacy of social responsibility has now been replaced by the primacy of economic efficiency and the virtues of the free market – with insufficient attention paid to the social dislocation caused.

Most economists agree that any economic policy discussion without its “intrinsic social-policy component” is incomplete. That is to say, not only are the two disciplines two sides of the same coin, they should also not be treated as separate domains. In effect, there can be no denial of the social multiplier effects in diverse contexts of economic stability and vice versa. When unemployment – considered an important barometer of a country’s economic health – rises to unsustainable levels, it can easily foment social instability. Conversely, weak social policies that don’t effectively promote equality of opportunities and people empowerment will eventually engender economic displacement and instability. Hence, good social policy is good economic policy – needless to say, poor economic decisions can have very unpleasant social consequences.

At any rate, a momentary snapshot of Saint Lucian society reveals a picture of a nation that has become disunited, indifferent and individualistic. Ours is a society of sharp elbows where money has become a deity and role models are almost non-existent. The young, and particularly students, are especially vulnerable and engage in vice owing to peer pressure, media influence, and poor guidance both at home and in society. The scourge of broken families along with a lack of employment opportunities has already taken its toll on society. Furthermore, a shameful culture of sexual violence against women and child abuse is taking root, evidenced by the recent increase in cases of rape and other sexual offences. The recent death of a four-year-old allegedly at the hands of his guardians is a harrowing example of a seemingly entrenched problem that requires urgent attention. All these developments should be a spur to policy action on the social front.

Clearly a new approach is needed. While I commend the Ministry of Social Transformation for revamping the island’s social policy programme to provide greater protection for the vulnerable, there is still a lot more to be done. It is obvious that social policy cannot succeed if it is focussed on the consequences, rather than the causes. First, we’ll need to have strong institutions with research capability, rather than simply obedient ones. Second, an entire infrastructure of care in the form of family planning, affordable day-care, early education and after-school programmes – is needed to help families invest in the next generation. Another priority is to enhance the long-run financial viability of the social safety net for the protection of vulnerable children and the impoverished elderly. Shock absorber, fiscal stimulus and economic stabilizer are all crucial roles of social policy and of income-security programmes.

Further, action on strengthening families, tackling educational failure, reforming welfare, ending drug and alcohol addiction is foundational to mending our broken society. Without a reversal of the social breakdown and disorder that characterises life in deprived communities, we will continue to see wasted generation after wasted generation.

Several studies on social development have consistently shown that higher gender-parity and female education strongly correlate with higher levels of development. On that calculus, it is to be expected that policies and programmes that boost young women’s economic standing will be implemented or reinforced – which in turn will improve women’s social position, reflected in better health outcomes, increased physical security, and greater political representation.

Owing to the absence of any evidenced-based research on criminality in the country, the recidivism rate among young offenders is really anyone’s guess. For all we know, there’s probably a viper’s nest at the Bordelais prison waiting to unleash more dangerous ex-convicts on the public. Of further disquiet is the fact that released inmates have no support networks to navigate re-entry to society, and thereby face huge barriers to employment, housing, health care and education.

Essentially, the provision of social services for the homeless, disabled, mentally ill and the elderly should not be seen through the prism of costs and fiscal constraints; neither should the social sector be treated as a burden on society. Instead social services should be viewed as an essential factor for a liveable society and for economic prosperity.

Even so, lurking in the average Saint Lucian mind is the notion that government is solely responsible for creating social stability and promoting civic engagement. Yet, the private sector and civil society organizations are expected to work in partnership and contribute to sustainable development through programmes of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social entrepreneurship. To this end, it’s essential that mechanisms are built by the public service and civil society to hold the private sector accountable for development results.

Since the mid-eighties, social policy in Saint Lucia – to misquote a writer for The Economist, “has not always been in thrall to the hobgoblins of consistency”. It is now time to give this area greater attention and prominence – and we can start by providing more human, financial and technical resources to the Department of Human Services. This is an issue that transcends politics and we all need to contribute constructively to the social policy conversation. Although I do understand the economic constraints that we face as a small country, I still believe greater social investments can be a game changer for our country’s future.

For comments, write to [email protected] – Clement Wulf-Soulage is a Management Economist, Published Author and Former University Lecturer.